WOMAN'S SAD LAPSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18299, 16 January 1923, Page 4

WOMAN'S SAD LAPSE.

FORGED HUSBAND'S NAME. E' S.. , ■ J MONEY FROM SAVINGS BAN! 1. . it ■■ ~ FALSE PRETENCES IN ADDITION. i- A series of charges' -were preferred yes ' terday in the Police Court against Ellei y Elizabeth Elliott, a married woman, age< a 26, in connection with the alleged wrong • ful withdrawing of moneys, totalling £230 a from the Auckland Post Office Saving, ' Bank., The case came before Mr. J. W Poynton, S.M. The charges, -which, cov s ered a. period of about 20 months, wen £ mainly in regard to forging the name o f her husband, William James Elliott, ir \ respect of the withdrawals. She was alw f charged with having used a counterfeitec 5 impression of the Money Order and Say 1 ings Bank, Newton, stamp, knowing it , to have been counterfeited ; making ar 5 .entry in a Post Office Savings -Bank boot ' by altering amounts of deposit, with intent ] that it should be acted upon as genuine; and with having obtained from "Walter 1 Lamboume £43 by falsely representing " that she was a widow. During the early ; stages of the case she sat in the dock with I her face hidden in her hands. Leonard S. Davis, examiner in the I Savings Bank at Auckland, produced docu--1 ments, showing the operations on W. J. ; .Elliott's account. Walter Lamboume, of Ponsonby, said '. that accused called on him on November 15, stating that she was a widow with three children. She had. borrowed money and was liable to be arrested if she did not make repayment. After making inquiries ,by telephone witness believed accused's story and gave' a cheque for £43. He received two bills of sale over furniture. So far he had nob received any repayment. Detective Robertson said that when he spoke to accused en December 20. she told him she kept her husbaiM's bank book, and admitted that she had withdrawn moneys without his knowledge. Witness, and Mr. Elliott accompanied the woman to where she had been living since leaving her "home on December 14, and she produced the stamps and pad. The accused made a statement to the effect that she had told the post office officials her husband was ill, and she had got people to witness the signatures. The Magistrate : It was very wrong for anyone to act as witness, to a signature when the man was not there. Continuing, Detective Robertson said the iurTber stamp was made by a man who did not ask what- it was for. She admitted going, to a money-lender and getting £10. She. had also raised a loan of 515 against her sister-in-law's piano as security. Her sister-in-law lived in the same House, and the accused got the agent to view it when the owner was out. She had raised loans on the furniture and nn the piano, "telliritr the agent she was a widow and that the furniture belonged to her. Accused said she wanted more money than her husband was earning. She had spent all the money in shops, and in buying presents for friends. She had also pawned her engagement ring and two brooches to get money. !Hier husband was not ill. The accused, who pleaded guilty to all the charges, * was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.